FHLM November/Dec 2018 Newsletter

Greetings from Masaka! I pray this letter finds you all blessed. I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving and are preparing for a wonderful Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior.  2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Director’s Update:

Back in August my home church Missions Pastor suggested that since I’ve been in the field for 9 years since my last long holiday that I take a month long sabbatical. Well being in country, but not working for a month just didn’t seem possible, so after prayer it was decided that I take 2 consecutive weeks off. It worked out well that I was able to attend with fellow missionary sisters, Lily Eastham & Liz Humphreys, a bi-yearly Women’s Retreat-Journey Together. The retreat was held outside Kampala from 8-11 Nov and the theme was from Joshua 1:9 “Walking in God’s promises & living an abundant life”.  It was amazing time of learning and fellowship with 54 other missionary women from all over East Africa.

The retreat was great! But all I took in at the retreat and learnt culminated while I was in Kenya on Holiday from the 13^th to 18^th Nov. God really spoke to me throughout the week I was gone! He is so amazing! After I got there and started to relax a bit I realized that this holiday was LONG overdue and that I’m going to need to leave Uganda, get away properly each year. Not just “working” in the U.S., but a proper holiday. Anyway, I felt bits of “me” come back and though there’s a lot God did in me over that week, He is slowly revealing all the things I need to do for Him and incorporate into my life. Just know this He is a GOOD, GOOD Father!

We held our FHLM Annual General Meeting (AGM) Nov 24th. It opened with a word of prayer and a luncheon. After the lunch and fellowship it was time for us to get down to business! I read our 2018 Annual Report reviewing all that has been accomplished over the last year. We also heard Jane, our Social Worker’s end of year report along with Pastor Samuel Sombi, our Assistant Director’s report. We had a few special guests and they enjoyed listening to all that God has brought the ministry to and through this year. Faridah was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for starting Back to Success & being such a valued member. Pastor Sombi was presented with Board Member of the Year Award for all of his effort counceling the youth and being a voice of wisdom and guidance to me. They were both very pleased to receive the recognition. We ended the day with old board members handing over their posts and the election of a new board member, Mr. Moses Namonbo.  We welcome him to the FHLM Family! A BIG thank you to goes out to all our board members for all their time that they have put into the ministry this year! Onto bigger things with Jesus in 2019!!

I have some very exciting news, my cousin, Angi, is coming in February to visit and volunteer with the ministry! She has booked her ticket so things are coming together!! She will be the first of my family to come to visit me. Please continue to keep her and her preparations in prayer. Thank you!

SOAR Youthz Update:

Baptism: Since Dave & Grace Ziegler were still ministering with Hilltop Church it was decided that 4^th of Nov would be Baptism Sunday! There were 5 adults and 6 children baptized that afternoon and Oliver was among them that publicly declared their faith and dedicated their lives fully to Christ.  We are very excited for Oliver and for all that the Lord is doing in her life!! Praise God!

Schools Out for Summer: Haha not really because it is summer all the time here! But actually 3^rd Term Ended on 21^st Nov and those in secondary will be out for a long Holiday until the 4^th of February! Eddy, Oliver, and Justine said that exams went pretty well.

Since Joshua is a S6 candidate he didn’t finish his national exams until the 27^th. He said, “Paper 2 for Biology and Chemistry were a bit difficult, but it is all in God’s hands now!” Amen! He will get results back in March.

William finished his final UBTEB exam on 21^st Nov. He said that he was surprised how easy this re-take was this time. He said that God showed him some of the questions to revise and those were some of the questions on the exams. God is good!! We are praying for great results when they come back in March.

Babirye needs prayer for her exams that will finish on 4^th Dec. Also she will be going on an Outreach/Mission to Bundibugyo in western Uganda with the university Christian Union immediately following exams, so please pray for her and the team, that Jesus move in and through them.

Joseph will be in exams the first part of December and will not be finished with his semester until the 19^th.  Please keep him in prayer. Thank you!!

Youthz Programs:

We continued each Tuesday & Thursday with Chapter & Verse Bibles Study in 2 Samuel & Acts. Of course Back to Success was held on Dec 1^st . There to programs continue to be the youth’s most appreciated and loved.

Outreach Day: On Saturday 10^th November 2018, Alpha led the secondary Organization youths to Nurture Babies’ home in New Kumbu for an outreach. He reported that they reached that place at 2:00pm and they opened the program with a prayer led by him, then he had Justine lead members in a praise and worship.

After praise and worship Alpha called out Oliver to share a testimony with the children and then William had to introduce the topic of the day which was about “ANGER” which was backed by a scripture from the book of Matthew 5:22, and then welcomed Alpha to share more about the topic.

Alpha used the glitter bottle and the expanding ball to teach the children how they can get rid of anger, by concentrating on the objects and their breathing. He added that the children liked the topic and when he asked questions after the lesson, most of them were active and they answered correctly. They gave sweets to all the children who were part of the program and then they closed in a prayer by 4:00pm.

Centre Clean Up: The youth and Jane and I spent Nov 22^nd & 23^rd cleaning up the compound of the centre and the building.  Our compound gardens are amazing but since the rains have come they had taken over and become a “jungle”!  So we all set about slashing bushes & grass, clearing, pulling weeds, and digging in the gardens to make everything clean and fresh again. We are so very grateful for this new centre location and its gardens. God has blessed us!

Outreach Trip Orientation & Training: We have been preparing for our Outreach & Educational Tour to Masindi, in North Western, Uganda from Dec 17^th-21^st. On Nov 26^th and 28^th Alpha led us in TEAM building trainings. I continued trainings on Dec 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th with general evangelism teachings on the Romans Road and how to pray with people after an alter call. We have also learnt several new songs and a skit for both outreach locations. You’ll have to stay tuned till next month to hear all about how we got on! But please keep our youth team and all of the leaders in pray for unity, the spirit to guide & flow, and the mission ground in Masindi to be ready for God’s Spirit and harvest!! Thank you.

Please pray that the Lord continues to guide us with His wisdom and understand through the remainder of December and in January with our Holiday Youth Programs; Bible Studies, Discipleship Classes, Prayer Retreat Camp-Out, and all our fun activity days.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, encouragement and love! May your Christmas and New Year be filled with the Lord’s everlasting love, joy and peace! Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

In His Grip,

Rita

Faith Hope Love Missions-Director